Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K

The Soul of Man compared to a Ship.

Heb. 6.19. Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul, &c.

HEre observe two Doctrines; one implied, the other expressed.

Doct. 1. The Soul of a Believer (in the Judgment of some Divines) is and may fitly be compared to a Ship.

Doct. 2. Hope, that noble and precious Grace of the Spirit, is and may fitly be compared to an Anchor.

Metaphor.	Parallel.
A Ship is a rare and curious Piece of Workmanship; it shews forth the excellent Wit and Inventi∣on of Man.	THe Soul of a Believer is a very rare and curious Piece of God's Work∣manship. The Body and Face of a Man doth magnify the Wisdom and Glory of the Creator; but what is the Body with∣out the Soul? it is but the Cabinet with∣out the Jewel.
II. A Ship is a very costly thing; a little will not build, rigg, and fit out a Ship to Sea, especially if it be designed for a long and profitable Voyage, as to the East-Indies, or the like.	II. The Soul of a Believer is a very costly and chargeable thing; God hath parted with much Treasure in building,* 1.1 or rather rebuilding and fitting of it out, to sail through the Ocean of this World, to the Haven of eternal Happiness; hath parted with his Son, with his Spirit, his Grace, his Gospel, &c.
III. Some Ships are built for noble and eminent Service, and are very profitable to the Owners.	III. The Charge that God hath been at in building and rebuilding the Soul of a Believer, is for renowned and eminent Service, viz. the Glory of God, and ever∣lasting Happiness.
IV. He that builds and owns a Ship, doth usually commit the Care and Charge of her to another, who is to sail in her.	IV. So doth God Almighty commit the Charge and Care of our Souls to us. We are employed but as Stewards,* 1.2 or Deputy-Owners, and must be accoun∣table to God, if our Souls are lost.
V. A gallant Ship that is bound for India, or for some noble and eminent Service, is richly fraighted, hath divers rare Commodities in her, &c.	V. So the Soul of a Believer, that it may make a blessed and glorious Voyage, is most richly stored and fraighted with the precious Gifts and Graces of God's holy Spirit, &c.
VI. A Ship ought to have a good Bottom, or the Danger is very great. Whatever she seems to be above Deck, tho never so stately and lovely to look upon; yet if her Bottom be naught and defective, she will never make the Voyage.	VI. So ought the Soul of a Christian to have a good Foundation. If not built upon Christ, if not sincere and firm at Heart, what Profession he may make, tho never so glorious, will prove fruitless and vain, the Soul is in danger, and will for ever unavoidably be lost.

VII. A Ship cannot sail without Wind or Tide.	VII. The Soul of a Believer cannot sail Heavenwards in any Service, Duty, or Suffering, without the sweet Movings and Gales of God's Spirit.
VIII. A Ship ought to have a wise and skilful Pilot.	VIII. So ought the Soul of a Believer; for if it hath not Christ to guide and steer its Course for it, it is impossible to escape the Danger of the Sea of Trouble and Temptation.
IX. A Ship needeth often to be repaired, being very subject to spring a Leak.	IX. So doth the Soul of a Christian need often to be repaired by Prayer and Repentance, or else it will fall under sad and fearful Decays.* 1.3 The Soul is like pared to a leaking Vessel.
X. A Ship is tossed upon the rough and tempestuous Waves, and has its Ups and Downs, and seldom hath rest or quiet, till she has made the Voyage.	X. Thus 'tis with the Soul; it is often tossed upon the boysterous and tempestu∣ous Seas of Temptation, sometimes trans∣ported up to Heaven,* 1.4 and then by and by down again to the Depths, and all the Billows of God's Wrath seem to run over it.
XI. A Ship is in danger of being lost, and that many ways, viz. by Rocks, by Sands, by the raging Waves, and by springing of a Leak, &c.	XI. The Soul also is in great danger. Never was Ship in more eminent hazard than the Soul of a Christian, and that many ways,* 1.5 viz. by the Rocks and Moun∣tains of great Opposition, the Sands of Despair, and raging Waves of Persecuti∣on, besides the Leaks occasioned by in∣dwelling Sin, &c.
XII. A Ship hath a Compass by which she is steered from place to place, without which no Man can or dares go to Sea.	XII. So likewise the Soul must have a Compass, unto which we are with care and diligence to look, and to be well-skilled in all the Points thereof, viz. the Word and Spirit of God, 2 Pet. 2.19.
XIII. A Ship is exposed to great Danger of being robbed (by Pi∣rates) of all her Treasure.	XIII. So is the Soul of a Believer by that cursed Pirate Satan, who sometimes transforms himself into an Angel of Light, and to trapan the Soul,* 1.6 puts out false Colours; pretends himself a Friend, when his whole Design is Blood and Slaughter, and treacherously to ruin and spoil the Soul.* 1.7 The Flesh is another secret Sea-Thief, and the World; yea, and Sin is as arch a Pirat as any.
XIV. A Ship often meets with sudden Storms; and a good Mari∣ner doth not only look for them, but also provide and prepare for them.	XIV. So must the Soul expect to meet with a dreadful Tempest or Hurricane. The Winds will rise, and a Storm will come upon the Ship where Christ is. David was aware of these Dangers,* 1.8 and saw how to prevent and escape sinking.
XV. 'Tis a rare thing to see a Ship sail along before a fresh and prosperous Gale.	XV. 'Tis a rare and lovely thing to see a Soul carried swiftly along in the Work and Service of God, being under the powerful Influences, a fresh and prospe∣rous Gale or Wind of the Spirit.
XVI. A Ship is sometimes be∣calmed.	XVI. So (alas!) it is too often with the Soul of a poor Christian.
XVII. 'Tis a Wonder to see a Ship to live in a tempestuous and boysterous Sea.	XVII. 'Tis a Wonder of Mercy to see how the Soul of a Saint should live, be preserved, and abide with its Head above Water, in such a disquiet and tem∣pestuous World as this is.

XVIII. Some Ships suffer Ship∣wrack, are lost, and sink down to the bottom.	XVIII. So doth the Soul of many a Professor, that sets out with much see∣ming Hopes of Heaven, suffer spiritual Shipwrack, and sink down to Hell.* 1.9
XIX. A Ship must be well look'd to, and kept very clean within and without, or she will not sail with any speed.	XIX. So must the Soul be washed, and kept exceeding clean, within as well as without, or it will go but slowly or heavily towards the Haven, of future Happiness, the Mire and Clay, or Scum and Filth of this World, is so apt to obstruct its way, as it passes Heaven-ward.
XX. A Ship hath its Anchor, and if in the midst of a Storm it be rightly cast, and takes good hold, the Ship is safe.	XX. The Soul hath its Anchor, Hope. Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul, both sure and stedfast.* 1.10 This An∣chor being rightly cast upwards, within the Vail, in the midst of the greatest Danger, the Soul is safe.
Metaphor.	Disparity.
A Ship is a lifeless thing built of Timber, &c. by Man.	THe Soul of Man is a Spirit created by the Almighty:* 1.11 He hath formed the Spirit of Man within him.
II. A Ship is a thing visible to corporeal Eyes.	II. The Soul of Man is an invisible Substance, i. e. it cannot be seen with fleshly Eyes.
III. A Ship may utterly be de∣stroyed, nay, and cannot continue long.	III. The Soul of Man cannot lose its Being; that will live when the Body is dead, either in Joy or Misery; it can ne∣ver be destroyed, so as to die,* 1.12 and lose its being, or suffer annihilation.
IV. A Man that has a Ship, may lose it, yet may not be undone; he may have his Loss repaired, and may get another Ship better than the former.	IV. That Man that loses his Soul is undone for ever. No Man hath more than one Soul, and he can have no more; that being cast away, he is eternally ruined, there is no repa∣ration for him, no making up his Loss.
V. A Ship, tho it hath never so good a Pilot, may miscarry, and be cast away, such Winds and Storms may arise, or by means of unknown Rocks, Sands, and Shoals it may hit upon.	V. The Soul of a Believer that hath Christ for its Pilot cannot miscarry; the Sea and Winds obey him; he makes the Storm a Calm, so that the proud Waves are still; he will carry it through all the Dangers it meets with,* 1.13 and bring it to its desired Haven.

Inferences.

IS the Soul fitly compared to a Ship, that passeth through the troublesom Ocean, or tempestuous Seas? Then this shews us, that the Life of a Christian is attended with many Difficulties, and eminent Dangers, and that we must expect to meet with sudden Storms in our passage to our eternal Port. Every Believer must resolve to sail through the Straits Mouth, and expect to meet with those cursed Algerines, those mortal Enemies of Christians, I mean the Spirits of Darkness, if ever he would ar∣rive at the Holy-Land.

II. Let it be the Care and Endeavour of every Man and Woman, to set out in this Voyage for Eternity, whilst the Wind of the Spirit blows. My Spirit (saith God) shall not always strive with Man.

III. Caution. And let each Man from hence take heed of his Soul, this Spiritual Ship, lest it be lost. He is but entrusted with it, and must give an account to the great Owner. Besides, the Soul is of very great Worth, far beyond all the Ships that sail on the Ocean; nay, what Value may be compared to the Soul of Man, the Excellency of which we shall briefly hint here, to caution all to take heed.

1. It is capable of Divine Meditation and Contemplation, by which means we come to know there is a God. For the invisible things of Him,* 1.14 from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead, &c. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy Works;* 1.15 and that my Soul knoweth right well. By prying into the Nature and Glory of the Work, the Soul findeth out the Being, Nature, and Glory of the Workman.

2. 'Tis capable of Divine Inspiration. But there is a Spirit in Man,* 1.16 and the Inspi∣ration of the Almighty giveth him Ʋnderstanding. Also of Comfort and Delight, and that when Multitudes of Thoughts are or would be disturbing the Mind.

3. 'Tis capable of Divine Impression, to receive the Image of God,* 1.17 as it is rebuilt in Christ Jesus.

4. 'Tis capable of Divine Union and Communion with God.

5. Nothing save God himself can satisfy it. The Heathen by this found out the Excellency of the Soul.

6. The Soul must needs be excellent, if we consider the Excellency of the Body, which is but the House or Tabernacle for the Soul. If the Cabinet be of so great a value, and so curiously wrought; then of what transcendent Value must the Jewel be!

7. The Price paid for it was no less than the precious Blood of Christ,* 1.18 the Re∣demption of the Soul is therefore precious; its Value and Excellency from hence is beyond comparison.

8. The Robes it weareth are a Demonstration of its great Worth and Excellency. O what Cost and Charge is God at, (to speak with a holy Reverence) in cloathing and adorning of it! He puts on Robes of Righteousness, and Garments of Salvati∣on, and adorns it with the Ornaments of Grace, and Divine Vertue.

9. From the Charge given us to look to it, and keep it: Only take heed to,* 1.19 and keep thy Soul diligently.

10. From Satan's hunting after it, to destroy it.

11. That 'tis exceeding excellent, appears, in that the Martyrs parted with all, ra∣ther than they would wrong, defile, and lose it for ever.

12. It is more worth than all the World:* 1.20 What shall it profit a Man to gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul?

13. 'Tis immortal; it cannot die, nor be annihilated.* 1.21 Fear not them that kill the Body, but cannot kill the Soul.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Pet. 1.18.
• * 1.2

  Deut. 4 9. Prov. 4.23.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 2.1.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 107. v. 23, to 28.
• * 1.5

  Zech. 4.7.
• * 1.6

  2 Cor. 11.15.
• * 1.7

  1 Pet. 2.1••.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 55.8.
• * 1.9

  1 Tim. 1.19.
• * 1.10

  Heb. 6.19.
• * 1.11

  Zech. 12.1
• * 1.12

  Mat. 10.28.
• * 1.13

  Psal. 107.28, 29, 30.
• * 1.14

  Rom. 1.20
• * 1.15

  Psal. 139.14.
• * 1.16

  Job 32.8.
• * 1.17

  Psal. 94 1••
• * 1.18

  Psal 49.8, 9.
• * 1.19

  Deut. 4.9.
• * 1.20

  Mat. 16.26.
• * 1.21

  Mat 10.28